By Ana María Ramos
El Inmobiliario
His encounter with the real estate business came like a thunderbolt when he was working at a financial institution in the 1980s and had the opportunity to close a real estate deal. At that moment, Mélido Marte discovered his connection to a world that attracted him like love at first sight.
He was familiar with the sector that would become his passion. His father, General Mélido Marte, was an engineer who built many of the country's barracks and military installations, and as a child, he would take his son to the construction sites, although his incompatibility with numbers predicted that he wouldn't follow in his father's footsteps.
"I'm really just another human being, and no human emotion is foreign to me. I'm a real estate professional, someone who started this career in March 1989," is how the regional director of RE/MAX Dominican Republic defines himself.
Although he understands that the career is used by many as a stepping stone, for him, who in his extensive 34-year career has participated in other areas of the industry, his eternal inclination to be a real estate agent runs through his veins and is what makes him feel "like a fish in water".
“My job is to be a real estate agent, to help people make a decision that is as basic as having food or clothing, which is having a roof over their heads to protect their family from the elements, but which is also a shelter for work, fun, and human activities.”.
“What does Mélido Marte feel when he hands over the keys to a house to a family?” A pause fills the conversation with El Inmobiliario; emotion surfaces, tears flow, and after a prolonged silence, he answers: “I can tell you that seeing their eyes shine with satisfaction, especially when it’s a mother, because she has a roof over her children’s heads, is probably one of the most beautiful feelings one can experience. Being an instrument, a means, or a catalyst in making someone’s dream come true—there’s no amount of money that can pay for that.”.
Although he acknowledges being a "daddy's and mommy's boy," he makes it clear, however, that this doesn't mean his achievements have come easily. "Every human being has their own cross to bear. For everyone, our crosses are heavy. I've tried, well... to manage and overcome those burdens," he says.
34 years of experience
This 2023, RE/MAX Dominican Republic recognized the career of more than three decades of Mélido Marte, highlighting his vision and commitment to positioning the brand in the country.
Regarding his rise to fame, he recounts his journey: he partnered with Nelson Jáquez in a small office, worked independently, then headed the real estate division of the law firm Castillo & Castillo, until, on November 13, 1995, he signed on as a sales associate with RE/MAX Santo Domingo. Two years later, he acquired the franchise rights for the metropolitan area; and on January 1, 2015, he became regional director, acquiring the franchise rights for the entire country.
Marte has garnered a remarkable list of accolades. He asserts that, excluding North America, the Dominican Republic has received the most awards from the brand: Broker Honor of the Year, highest number of agent and office transactions at the national, regional, international, and global levels. “We have been named 'Number One Closer Transactions Worldwide' on several occasions, receiving both individual and agency awards at the global and international levels.”.
Married to Marianela Lorenzo, he has three children: Mélido Eduardo, Graciela Marie, and María Fernanda. To their father's pride and satisfaction, they are all part of RE/MAX Metropolitana. A dancer, high school student, and squash player, he uses the sport to channel the stresses of daily life.
Regarding his legacy, he prefers to cite his support of colleagues, helping them in their work; advising thousands of families to realize their dream of owning their own home; helping developers start their businesses; and considering himself a mentor in the real estate market. "In what sense?" I asked. Marte replied, "Well, with hundreds of agents passing through these walls, I think there's an imprint, a style, a way of doing things, and perhaps I've impacted those people, and I want to think so, that I've done something good, beautiful, and necessary.".
Ethics has been his guiding principle throughout his career, leading him to coin the phrase "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He observes that the reality for real estate agents remains competitive, now faster-paced, "perhaps more radical," but he understands that the challenges haven't changed. "It's about deciphering the future and adapting to it," he affirms.
To continue nurturing his real estate ventures, he's currently working on a project he hopes will leave a lasting mark on his career. He's always ready to work as a real estate advisor because when you do what you love, you never think of the word "work." And if he were born again, he says he would choose the same profession. "I've enjoyed it immensely. This has been an opportunity for me to get to know people, to get to know myself, and to constantly improve," he concludes.
Photos: Fidel Pérez / El Inmobiliario
Interview published in the print edition of El Inmobiliario .
